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a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation." Isaiah xxviii. 16. Το this same foundation hath the testimony of the faithful been given, and it has by them been esteemed, though others have rejected it, and have sought to build upon outward forms and opinions, denying that God has continued this spiritual principle of light; an error which was foreseen and foretold. "The stone which the builders refused, is become the head stone of the corner." Psalm cxviii. 22. And our Lord inquires of the Pharisees, "Did ye never read in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes." Mat. xxi. 42. And the apostles have given testimony that this corner stone was Jesus Christ. "Neither is there salvation in any other." Acts iv. 12. We, of consequence, are convinced, that the church of Christ being built upon him, and by him, its members have fellowship with him, and one with another. He it is, therefore, by whom all who are opened in spirit, are opened into the kingdom of God; and by him, all that are bound on earth are bound in heaven, and all that are loosed on earth, are loosed in hea

ven. The apostles and true believers in the inward life of him who is the light of men, being built up in him, a spiritual building, and having received from him this wisdom and power of God, while they remain in him, and act under his government, whomsoever they bound on earth was bound in heaven, and on the other hand, whomsoever they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven. But though it is consistent with the doctrine of the Scriptures, for a spiritual building possessing unity and power to be built up, yet it also appears, that among the members of this building, there may be want of watchful and faithful obedience; in which case, the unity is interrupted, and offences are given. Our Lord, knowing the frailty of man, has therefore condescended to instruct his followers how to proceed in such instances. "Moreover, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, and if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." Mat. xviii. 15. Here it may be remarked, that it is allowed to be possible that a brother may so far depart from the influence and government of the head of the church, as to be guilty of a trespass; but though this should be the case, he is not,

TORARY

IN CRITI

OF CALIFORNIA

may

on the supposition of an individual, to be cast away: : but before judgment is passed upon him, he shall have a hearing, even though he should refuse to hear a brother, who had told him his fault alone. "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” 16, 17. A separation is here pointed out, but it is evident that where this takes place, the member has become a party in opposition to the church; he has gone from the unity of the spirit in himself, he has left the true foundation, and is no longer qualified to enjoy the fellowship of Christ nor can any human power restore him to the unity and fellowship of the church. But he is in the spirit of opposition, among the children of disobedience, who walk not in the truth. When any, therefore, thus fall away from the life and spirit of Christ, and from the unity of his church; these are as though they had never known the truth, and must be left to the judgment of the great day of the Lord. Now, the day of the Lord is a day of divine

light renewed or opened in the soul; and in this day, the opposing and strong will is brought down, the transgressing nature is taken hold of, and if the individuals submit to the light of this day, they are brought to see themselves, and the chains of darkness under which they had been held: and as they become humbled, they are blessed with a dispensation of repentance for the sins that are past; and by the merciful atonement of Christ, permitted to be loosed in heaven and on earth; and to walk in his spirit who taketh away the sins of the world, and clothes these with his own lamb-like nonresisting nature, by which they are prepared to be members of his church. The existence of order in the church is evidenced by his own instructions respecting the manner in which an offending brother was to be treated, as I have before stated. In this there is ground to believe that the church must have been in possession of some formal obligations proper to be observed; and such as the members living under the government of truth would always comply with. But the great danger in those outward and formal means of government, is that men may enlarge their number upon the principles of human sagacity, without the lead

ings or counsel of the head of the church. This, I apprehend, has been an error which has crept into most societies of Christian professors. It is an error which may always be expected, where men, in their own wisdom and wills, undertake to make rules for the government of the consciences of others. The apostles, very early in the Christian church, were made sensible of the necessity of care on this head; as appears in the conclusion adopted by them, and sent among their believing brethren of the Gentiles. "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things, that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well." Acts xv. 28, 29. But as they who are gathered into the mind of Christ, continue subject to him in all things, there will be no danger of forming rules or regulations in his church, that shall be oppressive to the tender consciences of any of the members. For want of this subjection have arisen most of the divisions in Christendom; as would appear, were we to examine the declarations of faith and belief to which many professors have been

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